Ever dreamed of running away, jumping on a sailing boat and see where you land up?.......we have, and we have done just that.

Back to Valencia

Tracey06/15/2012, Valencia

Back to Valencia, need to make a dash back to the UK, so where better to leave the boat, but back in the capable hands of Anna at Yacht Base. We left Mallorca at 7am and Richard motored & sailed all the way for 19 hours. (135 miles non stop )Got in at 3am this morning. I fell asleep about midnight, but he stayed up, but dosed off to waking with a start that something was amiss, only to look over the spray hood to see a massive ferry bearing down on him. He was strapped to the pilot table by his life jacket & got in a major panic to get back on the helm to veer the yacht to the right. Fortunately the ferry was on the ball & he veered to the right, as did Richard when he got onto the helm. He said his heart was in his mouth, while watching all these faces peering over the side of the ferry down at him. Another lesson learned! So we are off back to the UK and then will be back on the 2nd to continue around Mallorca.

Spent the last couple of days in Portinax, had a bit of a drama when we got here as we discovered that we had used the entire back tank of water in one night & although we have the water maker, it was a little disconcerting to go through 200 litres of water in one night. So up came the floor boards again! Richard had spent most of the night before clearing the water out of the bilge, which is what ticked us off about the problem as it kept on trying to empty all the water. The next morning Richard set out trying logically to see whether the leak came from the water maker side or the domestic side. After tracking it back to one of the back bedrooms, we then discovered it was even further back, which meant the back of the boat. It then became clear to him that it was the shower on the back of the boat on the swim platform. It had developed a dodgy spray and had not shut off properly and had slowly but surely being trickling quite rapidly back on it's self back into the boat & then into the hull. Another learning curve.... Fortunately it was not that serious, so yesterday for most of the day we had to have the genny on to refill our water tank. Then to cap it all last night, we started to slip anchor. There were 2 yachts in the bay over 45 ft and both of us had the same issue. We had to move twice & it is a little eerie when you see the rock face of the bank a lot closer than it should be. The pilot books do say it the bay does not have the best holding. Anyway after much contemplating by both boats we feel we had the anchor set. The smaller boats did not seem to have the problem. Though saying that, tonight a little 32 ft came in and after dropping anchor and going a shore about an hour later they made a dash back to their boat as they were slipping quite a quickly. Fortunately for them, they got round a mooring buoy, which are available for the smaller boats.

Last night we had a night on the town with a nice dinner. Richard thought a break from fish would be nice, so a little duck for dinner & a little champers to boot. We spent today enjoying Portinax bay, by snorkelling, lying in the hammock, and on the li-lo, an enjoyable day had by both of us. Richard also disappeared into the rocks and came back with a huge squid and an octopus, which we had for dinner & there is enough for tomorrow nights dinner.

Planning on making an early get away and heading over to Majorca tomorrow morning, Richard reckons 6am get away......mmmm I think 8 would be nicer. Plenty time to get to Majorca for about 5 tomorrow night.

Tell Richard his talent lies BEHIND the camera......it had to be said.

06/15/2012 | Tracey Stubbins

Richard agrees Alan, he reckons I dont have the eye he has!! Dont know what he means?lol

Playa de las Salinas

Tracey06/07/2012, Ibiza

Me on my lilo, enjoying the first dip of the season.

Heading for Ibiza old town. When we got to Playa de las Salinas, it looked so inviting, so we dropped the hook and Richard did a bit of snorkelling and I broke the ice and got on to my lilo. It was beautiful, a little cold but not too bad at all. Cap'n Jack sparrow (alias Richard) also rose to the occasion & caught us 2 fishies for dinner which we ate within half an hour of them coming out of the water. They were absolutely delicious with med potatoes and a fresh salad with hugh asparagus.......mmmmmmmm Can't get fresher than that. We are staying here the night & seeing what tomorrow holds.

Richard tried to convince me that he took this photo because he liked the way his yacht sat in the blue water..........I'm not so sure!!!!

Leaving St Antonio and heading for Ibiza old town, going to stop in a nice cala tonight. Had 3 days in St Antonio and met up with a couple of other sailors. Met Chris a sailor who has been sailing around Spain for the last 5 years, built his own 53 yacht, well done Chris your floating home has everything, and I mean everything. Even a full size bath!

Making our way up to Mallorca to meet Steph & Jack who are joining us for 10 days. We have given ourselves plenty of time, so we can stop end enjoy the island while making our way there.

I like Richard. He has a photographers eye for the natural beauty of a boats lines. His use of natural light to highlight the curves is nothing short of genius. Too bad those girls in the foreground detract from it all...lol....Allan

06/07/2012 | Tracey Stubbins

Hmmm, I think I know where you are coming from Alan. Richard noted your comment & is still smiling. lol

St Antonio Here we come.

Tracey06/03/2012, St Antonio

We are now making our way to St Antonio, it is miserable weather today, very damp, but still warm. Absolutely no wind, so under motor again. Hoping to have a night on the town in St Anotonio, have visions of the place being packed with drunk people because of the weather, not much else to do but drink I guess.

Made it to St Antonio, weather very over cast but a mild 27 degrees. Going to have an early dinner and then go and explore St Antonio's night life. Will probably be in bed before all the revellers get going. Just getting a bit old maybe. lol